On Wednesday, the Biden administration lifted Trump-era flight restrictions that prevented U.S. airlines and charter flights from traveling to cities other than Havana in Cuba.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said revoking the ban was in favor of the Cuban people and in “the foreign policy interests of the United States”.
He had made a written request to the US Department of Transportation on Tuesday and the department made the change on Wednesday.
The Trump administration had issued several travel restrictions to Cuba between 2019 and 2020, which the Biden administration has said in recent weeks it plans to ease.
Cuba “uses tourism and travel funds to finance its abuses and interference in Venezuela. Dictators cannot be allowed to benefit from travel to the United States,” former Trump secretary of state Mike Pompeo said at the time, according to Reuters.
The Biden White House also plans to lift restrictions on the money immigrants can send to islanders.
The administration said it would also restore Cuba’s parole program for family reunification, which has a backlog of more than 20,000 applications, and increase consular services and visa processing.
“With these actions, we aim to support Cubans’ aspirations for freedom and greater economic opportunity so they can lead successful lives at home,” the State Department spokesperson said last month. , Ned Price.
